Ear tag installation tool and method

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices and methods of installing ear tags, and more particularly, to ear tag installation tools and methods for attaching tags to livestock. The tool incorporates a tissue capture feature for obtaining a tissue sample of the tagged animal that can be used for later regulatory testing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A considerable number of prior art devices exist that disclose various types of livestock tag installation tools. One consideration addressed by the prior art devices is to provide reliable and efficient means to install a tag with minimal damage to the animal's ear. Another consideration addressed in the prior art is the provision of an ear tag that will remain securely fastened to the animal throughout its life.

Regulatory schemes in many countries now require increased frequency and scope of testing of the animals for public safety purposes. During the life of an animal, it may be necessary to periodically test the animal for various health issues and to comply with regulations requiring the testing of animal tissue samples.

One group of prior art references that disclose ear tag applicators having a configuration, such as a hand tool with pivotal handles include a number of patents to Gardner. U.S. Pat. No. 4,819,639 to Gardner discloses an ear tag applicator comprising two pivotally connected handle members that are moved between open and closed positions to install the ear tag. One of the handles includes a pivotal bar with the tag attached thereto. The other handle stabilizes the ear and enables the tag to be placed through the ear by closing the handle members. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,552,147 and 5,462,554 to Gardner also disclose tag applicators having pivotally connected handle members and a pivotal bar for mounting the ear tag. U.S. Pat. No. 5,228,224 to Gardner further discloses an example of an ear tag that may be installed by one or more of the previous Gardner patents.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,368,735 to Filmer is another example of a prior art reference disclosing pivotal handle members and an ear piercing pin or bar.

The Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,548 discloses an apparatus and method for installing an ear tag. The apparatus includes a pair of handle members, including an inserting member that has attached to it a portion of the tag to be installed. The inserting member penetrates the ear and facilitates mounting of the ear tag by positioning a securing or anchoring tab of the ear tag on the opposite side of the animal's ear. The inserting member is removable and disposable after each use.

While the foregoing inventions are suitable for their intended purposes, there is still a need to provide a livestock tag installation tool which is easy to use, reliable, and prevents cross-contamination between livestock by use of a disposable piercing needle. Repeated use of the same piercing needle between livestock can result in the spreading of disease and other pathogens between the livestock. Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to provide a disposable piercing needle for each use of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide an ear tag installation tool that quickly and efficiently installs ear tags.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of installation wherein the livestock tag is reliably secured to the animal with minimal damage to the animal's tissue.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an ear tag installation tool that incorporates a tissue capture feature in which a tissue sample of the animal may be obtained through a disposable piercing needle that remains secured to the installation tool after use.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a method for quickly and efficiently obtaining a tissue sample of the animal that does not require the tissue sample to be stored or otherwise made a part of the livestock tag. Accordingly, the tag may be kept intact after installation and yet a tissue sample can be obtained by the piercing needle that remains with the tool as opposed to the needle becoming part of the tag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus and method of installing livestock tags are provided. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus includes a pair of pivotal handle members used in conjunction with a disposal piercing needle that is attached to a pivoting head on one of the handle members. The piercing needle includes a cutting element or cutting tip that pierces the ear of the animal. A tab portion of the ear tag is removeably connected to the piercing needle. The distal ends of the handle members are placed on opposite sides of the animal's ear and are closed upon one another causing the piercing needle to pass through the ear along with the tab portion of the ear tag. The tab portion is stripped away from the piercing needle after the piercing needle fully penetrates the ear. The piercing needle is ejected from the pivoting head of the handle member and is resiliently held within a needle holder attached to the distal end of the opposing handle member. The tab portion of the tag remains on the opposite side of the ear thereby securing the tag to the ear. The handle members are opened and the next tag can be installed by securing another piercing needle with another tag to the pivoting head of the handle member.

The piercing needle may be especially constructed to include a small distal cavity or bore to form a tissue capture element. The bore is aligned with the angle at which the needle penetrates the ear resulting in a slug of tissue being captured within the bore as the needle passes through the ear. This tissue may then be used for testing purposes, according to regulatory requirements.

The rotating or pivoting head is used to mount the piercing needle. The pivoting head includes a core and a sleeve slidably mounted over the core. In an extended position, the sleeve extends beyond the core and the internal chamber of the sleeve receives the proximal end of the needle. As the needle passes through the animal's ear, and as the distal tip of the piercing needle frictionally slides into the needle holder, the sleeve makes contact with the ear of the animal thereby sliding the sleeve to the retracted position. In the retracted position, the core extends beyond the end of the sleeve thereby exposing the proximal end of the needle and effectively ejecting the needle from within the chamber of the sleeve.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a review of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the livestock tag installation tool of the present invention;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> is a perspective view of the piercing needle showing one type of livestock tag secured to the needle;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a side view of the installation tool, illustrating a piercing needle secured to the pivoting head, along with a livestock tag mounted to the needle, the handle members shown in the open position, and an ear of an animal positioned for receiving the tag;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> is a side view of the installation tool, illustrating the handle members moved towards the closed position in which the distal tip of the piercing needle passes through the animals ear and into frictional engagement with the needle holder located adjacent the distal end of the other handle member;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the position of the tool in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> is another side view of the installation tool, illustrating the piercing needle fully inserted into the needle holder and separated from the pivoting head. At this stage in the installation method, the tab portion of the tag is separated from the needle;

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view illustrating the position of the tool in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref>; and

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is another side view showing the needle captured in the needle holder, the sleeve fully retracted, and the handle members moved back to the open position and the tool removed from the animal in preparation for receiving another piercing needle for the installation of the next tag.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

<figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates a livestock tag installation tool <b>10</b> according to a preferred embodiment. The installation tool <b>10</b> is characterized by a first handle member <b>12</b> pivotally connected to a second handle member <b>14</b> by pin <b>16</b>. Optional finger grips <b>13</b> may be incorporated on the handles to facilitate comfortable positioning of the fingers and to help prevent slippage of the hand when the tool is in use. The distal end <b>18</b> of handle member <b>14</b> includes a pivoting head assembly <b>20</b>. The distal end <b>30</b> of the opposing handle member <b>12</b> includes a flexible needle holder <b>36</b>, and a base plate <b>34</b> that secures the needle holder <b>36</b> to the handle member. The needle holder has an opening <b>38</b> sized to frictionally receive a piercing needle <b>50</b> and to hold the piercing needle <b>50</b> once the handler members are closed, as explained below. The needle holder may be a resilient piece of material, such as rubber or plastic. The base plate <b>34</b> is preferably rigid to provide support to the needle holder <b>36</b>, and has a larger opening aligned with the opening <b>38</b> of the needle holder.

The distal portion or end <b>18</b> of the handle member <b>14</b> comprises a pair of spaced forks or tines <b>28</b>. As shown, the tines <b>28</b> extend substantially parallel to one another. Similarly, the distal end or portion <b>30</b> of handle member <b>12</b> comprises a corresponding pair of tines or spaced prongs <b>32</b>. The prongs <b>32</b> have a curved recess <b>44</b> that may facilitate placement of the animal's ear between the distal ends <b>18</b> and <b>30</b> of the handle members <b>12</b> and <b>14</b> and for otherwise assisting in holding the portion of the ear to receive the tag. The spaced area between the tines <b>28</b> and the curved recess <b>44</b> serve to create a cradle or cup that helps to stabilize the ear to prevent the ear from shifting during installation of the tag that could otherwise result in tearing of the ear tissue.

The pivoting head assembly <b>20</b> is mounted between the tines <b>28</b> and is pivotally secured by pin <b>22</b>. The head assembly may rotate about pin <b>22</b> to align the needle <b>50</b> at the most optimum angle to penetrate the ear of the animal. A degree of frictional resistance is incorporated with the pin so that the head assembly does not freely rotate, but can be manually adjusted to achieve the desired alignment for the needle. The head assembly <b>20</b> includes a core <b>24</b> and a slidable sleeve <b>26</b> which is slidable over the core <b>24</b> between an extended position, such as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, and a retracted position, such as shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 and 7</figref>, as discussed below. The sleeve <b>26</b> has a slot <b>40</b> that enables the sleeve to slide over the core <b>24</b> between the extended position and retracted position. The core <b>24</b> is mounted to the pin <b>22</b>, and therefore can also rotate.

Referring also to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, the piercing needle <b>50</b> is shown with an exemplary livestock tag that is mounted to the needle <b>50</b>. The livestock tag includes a tag panel <b>60</b>, a tab <b>64</b>, and a flexible neck <b>62</b> interconnecting the tab <b>64</b> to the panel <b>60</b>. The needle <b>50</b> has a body <b>52</b> and pointed distal tip <b>54</b>. The tab <b>64</b> is placed within a longitudinal or side groove <b>58</b> formed on the body <b>52</b> of the needle <b>50</b>. As shown, the groove extends in the longitudinal or lengthwise direction of the needle <b>50</b>. The needle <b>50</b> may be rotated in any desired orientation when connected to the pivoting head so long as the panel <b>60</b> does not interfere with the closing of the handle members. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> shows the tag rotated to the lateral side of the tool <b>10</b>, while the other figures show the tag aligned with the distal end of the tool <b>10</b>, both positions being suitable for installing the tag without interfering with the closing of the handle members.

Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the animal's ear E is placed between the handle members <b>12</b> and <b>14</b>. As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4 and 5</figref>, the handle members are moved to the closed position so that the distal tip <b>54</b> of the piercing needle <b>50</b> passes through the tissue of the ear E, and begins to travel within the flexible needle holder <b>36</b>. As shown in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref>, the piercing needle <b>50</b> includes an optional distal cavity or orifice <b>56</b> which is aligned longitudinally with the long axis of the piercing needle. A slug of tissue is captured within the cavity <b>56</b> as the needle <b>50</b> passes through the animal's ear.

Referring to <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 and 7</figref>, as the handle members are further closed upon one another, the needle <b>50</b> continues to pass through the needle holder <b>36</b> and base plate <b>34</b>, and the sleeve <b>26</b> slides to its retracted position in response to the sleeve <b>26</b> making contact with the ear E and as the needle <b>50</b> is frictionally engaged with the holder <b>36</b>. The needle <b>50</b> is ultimately ejected from within the chamber of the sleeve <b>26</b> when the sleeve <b>26</b> is in the retracted position.

As the needle <b>50</b> enters the needle holder <b>36</b>, the tab <b>64</b> of the tag is stripped away from the groove <b>58</b> in the needle, thereby positioning the tab <b>64</b> to anchor the tag to the ear E. The neck <b>62</b> of the tag passes through the opening formed in the ear E by the piercing needle <b>50</b>.

As illustrated in <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, when the ear tag is completely separated from the installation tool <b>10</b>, the piercing needle <b>50</b> is secured to the flexible needle holder <b>36</b>, and the user may then retrieve the needle <b>50</b> in order to process the tissue sample wedged in the distal orifice <b>56</b> of the needle. <figref idrefs="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> also shows the ability of the head assembly <b>20</b> to rotate about the pin <b>22</b> in response to forces that may be applied against the head assembly. For example, if the animal moves its head away from the tool after the tag is attached but before user can clear the tool from the animal, the force of the animal's ear or the installed tag making contact with the head assembly may cause the head assembly to rotate. This rotation by the head assembly helps to prevent the head assembly from damaging the tag and the animal's ear, which otherwise may occur if the animal's ear remains trapped between the handle members. As shown, the head assembly can rotate in either direction to facilitate clearing the tool from the animal after the tag is installed.

To install another ear tag, the sleeve <b>26</b> is manually slid back to the extended position, another piercing needle <b>50</b> is placed in the cylindrical chamber within the sleeve <b>26</b>, and another tag is secured to the needle.

The method of installing an ear tag in the ear of the animal is illustrated in the figures. Although the figures illustrate a specific type of ear tag in which the tag has a portion attached to the needle, it should be understood that other types of ear tags can be installed with the tool. For example, the needle could have a circumferential slot that receives a circular shaped tab of the tag placed in the slot.

One advantage of the invention is that the needle can be retrieved with a tissue sample in the needle. In some prior art devices, the needle is incorporated as part of the tag. In the present case, it is an advantage to not make the needle a part of the tag since the tag would have to be removed from the animal in order to retrieve the tissue sample.

The invention has been, described with respect to a preferred apparatus embodiment to include a preferred embodiment for a method of installing a tag. Although the preferred apparatus embodiment illustrates specific structural features, it shall be understood that the invention can be modified commensurate with the scope of the claims appended hereto.